X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

The Jim Backus Show Season 1 Episodes

Season 1 Episode Guide

Season 1

39 Episodes 1960 - 1961

Episode 1

The Mad Bomber

Thu, Oct 6, 1960

Headline News, owned by Mike, runs an article on a crazed bomber creating havoc in the city. The person reads it, angering him and he vows revenge against the news office.

Where to Watch

Episode 2

The Patriots

Tue, Oct 25, 1960

O'Toole is struggling to find a good story to offer when he discovers an apparent first hand account of a revolution in a south American nation written by a new correspondent. He sells it to a client paper, then finds it was fiction. So Dora and the rest of the staff must bluff that country's leaders into believing it's real to save the story.

Where to Watch

Episode 3

Mike O'Toole, Angler

Tue, Nov 1, 1960

Mike is trying to raise funds for an orphanage without much success. He decides to stage a robbery with the help of "Fingers" Larkin , expecting the publicity will bring a flood of donations. The plan misfires of course.

Where to Watch

Episode 4

The Caravel Heiress

Tue, Nov 8, 1960

After a jet-setting millionairess knocks down one of O'Toole's reporters, he invades her hotel suite to take some pictures, but she turns the tables on him by going in with him on a headline-grabbing marriage proposal- to Mike. He soon finds himself as inundated by reporters as she was.

Where to Watch

Episode 5

No Help Wanted

Tue, Nov 15, 1960

A retired stage actress is trying to adapt to a normal life when John's car breaks down near her house. Using her phone as she appears to be a cleaning woman, he thinks she is destitute and goes to great lengths to get her back on her feet.

Where to Watch

Episode 6

The Marry-Go-Round

Tue, Nov 15, 1960

Irresponsible millionaire playboy Sonny Slote has divorced and about to marry again, this time to a stripper half his age. Anxious for a story, O'Toole and Dora appear at the Slote home, but forgetful old Sonny mistakes Dora for an ex-lover and O'Toole for her father.

Where to Watch

Episode 7

The Nephew

Tue, Nov 22, 1960

The will of a recently deceased woman stipulates that her fortune should go to her prized cat, however, as the cat also died, the legacy goes to a nephew-if he can be located. O'Toole starts a campaign to find him, but is inundated by false claimants. Finally what seems like the genuine heir is found, only to find the lawyer administrating the estate has a different contender.

Where to Watch

Episode 8

Baby, Come Home

Tue, Nov 29, 1960

An infant is kidnapped and O'Toole looks for a sensational take on the story. But when Mike is unexpectedly in possession of the abducted baby it takes Dora's smarts to figure out what to do.

Where to Watch

Episode 9

The Frame Up

Tue, Dec 6, 1960

A street gang beats up a boy who is told to blame a policeman on the beat. Mike suspects the cop is being framed and persuades Sidney to act as a decoy to clear the officer.

Where to Watch

Episode 10

Painting Caper

Tue, Dec 13, 1960

Trying to get financial support for his business Mike poses as an art expert to a wealthy man interested in buying paintings. But one falsehood leads to another with Mike starting a hoax he's unable to contain.

Where to Watch

Episode 11

The Three Sisters

Fri, Dec 16, 1960

Mike learns of a sweet old lady who's in jail for shoplifting and bails her out. She and her two sisters decide to help Mike out at his apartment but unbeknownst to him they have turned his home into a bookie joint.

Where to Watch

Episode 12

Uncle Chester

Tue, Dec 20, 1960

Mike is following a hot story about a crooked poltician when his Uncle Chester comes for a visit. Mike is welcoming at first but when his relative interferes with his work Mike becomes exasperated.

Where to Watch

Episode 13

Crime a la Carte

Tue, Dec 27, 1960

Mike gets the not very good idea of pretending to be a stool pigeon to land a story about crime. Mike is too believable and a criminal gang kidnaps him to keep him quiet. Mike's staff scrambles to free him.

Where to Watch

Episode 14

The Desk

Tue, Jan 3, 1961

To get an exclusive for his news service Mike hides a suspected criminal. He then tries to conceal himself in a roll top desk but gets stuck inside. Mike endeavors to get out without revealing the other person hiding.

Where to Watch

Episode 15

Piano Prodigy

Tue, Jan 10, 196130 mins

Mike's business is hired to do publicity for a young French music sensation. But disaster occurs when the boy injures his hand playing football. A search for another lad who plays excellent piano becomes paramount.

Where to Watch

Episode 16

Mike Cheats a Cheater

Tue, Jan 17, 1961

Mike wants to expose a drama teacher who he believes is a phony, scamming people of their savings. Mike decides to pose a a Texas millionaire's son but gets little help from his assistants who are enamored with the instructor.

Where to Watch

Episode 17

Meet Melvin

Tue, Jan 24, 1961

In an effort to get a raise from Mike, girl Friday Dora is forced to invent a fiance. But as the deception deepens Dora is asked to produce an actual person for everyone to meet. She searches for the right fellow to go along with her lie.

Where to Watch

Episode 18

The Woman's Touch

Tue, Jan 31, 196126 mins

Dora thinks she can do better as Mike's business fails so they switch positions. Dora hires Aldrich as a salesman and begins a romance while assigning Mike a story on bigamy. Irritated Mike finds a surprise during his investigation..

Where to Watch

Episode 19

Sidney's Scoop

Tue, Feb 7, 1961

Mike give Sidney the office boy an opportunity to be a reporter. But when Sidney writes a false story his boss Mike must wotk fast to prevent any damage to the agency.

Where to Watch

Episode 20

The Hypnotist

Tue, Feb 14, 1961

Mike is onto Lucifer Ferris, a hypnotist who he believes is blackmailing people. Ferris puts newspaperman O'Toole under a post hypnotic suggestion that keeps Mike from following through on his expose.

Where to Watch

Episode 21

Once Upon a Moose

Tue, Feb 21, 1961

Mike and Dora, after a hot story, travel to West Virginia to ask questions about a murder convicted. Positive an innocent man is jailed the two reporters look for evidence to free him, who looks identical to at least 3 others in town.

Where to Watch

Episode 22

Pinkmalion

Tue, Feb 28, 1961

Mike is refused an interview with a well known actress. He decides invent Pink Larsen, movie star, to create a buzz. All goes well until Mike is pressured to produce an actual person in response to all the publicity.

Where to Watch

Episode 23

When a Body Meets a Body

Tue, Mar 7, 1961

Mike thinks he has a huge scoop when he learns of an unreported murder with the body in a barbershop. But his excitement evaporates when the corpse goes missing, then turns up alive demanding answers from Mike.

Where to Watch

Episode 24

Arabian Night

Tue, Mar 14, 1961

Mike is determined to land an interview with an Arab prince and sends Dora to work her magic. She's too successful as the ruler wants to make Dora his 39th wife so he offers Mike 3 camels and 2 harem girls.

Where to Watch

Episode 25

Old Army Game

Tue, Mar 21, 196126 mins

Mike takes on a gang of thugs who prey on soldiers frequenting a seedy bar.

Where to Watch

Episode 26

The Fix

Tue, Apr 4, 1961

Little Augie, a boxing promoter, is suspected of fixing fights but no one can get the proof. Mike is sensing a scoop so he get Sidney to pose as as fighter and tries to catch Little Augie making a payoff to the boxer.

Where to Watch

Episode 27

Sad Sack Santa

Tue, Apr 11, 1961

Mike meet a depressed fellow sitting on a stoop wearing a Santa suit. Problem is it's months after Christmas. The man is unable to find a job and Mike tries to help but then suspects he is being taken advantage of.

Where to Watch

Episode 28

The Plant

Tue, Apr 18, 1961

Mike is hot when a rival news service prints a number of his exclusives. Determined to get back at them, Mike convinces Dora to pose as a Russian secret agent. But Mike's plan threatens to backfire on him.

Where to Watch

Episode 29

The Temporary Scoundrel

Tue, Apr 25, 1961

Mike meets his doppelganger who happens to be a wealthy Argentine build as the World's Greatest Lover. The two agree to change places for a day and Mike is enjoying himself until someone starts shooting at him.

Where to Watch

Episode 30

Floundered in Florida

Tue, May 2, 1961

Mike is hired by Sally's suits to promote their swimwear in Miami. He and Sidney arrive but Siidney soon runs into trouble. Entanglement with a female con artist loses the office boy all his savings and Mike must rescue him.

Where to Watch

Episode 31

Dear Minnie

Tue, May 9, 1961

Mike hires Minnie Morgan to write a lonely heart column for the news service. Minnie though is better a dispensing advice then following it as Mike and Dora find out by Minnie's complicated personal life.

Where to Watch

Episode 32

In the Rough

Tue, May 16, 1961

Mike's ex-girlfriend Henrietta shows up from her travels with a golf prodigy, a gorilla! Mike thinks he has found a sure way to make a fortune so he bets his savings on a match between the ape and golfing pro Jimmy Demaret.

Where to Watch

Episode 33

Dora's Vacation

Sat, Jun 17, 1961

When Dora insists on taking her much delayed vacation Mike hires Debbie, a flighty youngster, as her replacement. But the teenager is a disaster in the office and as she's the daughter of an important client Mike can't fire her.

Where to Watch

Episode 34

The Birthday Boy

Tue, May 30, 1961

It's time for a party or so Mike thinks when it's his birthday. Mike arrives at a celebration, thinking it's for him but before he learns of the mistake he receives two black eyes for crashing the event.

Where to Watch

Episode 35

War Bride

Tue, Jun 13, 1961

Jean Reilly, a former WAC, married in haste during WW II and has been looking for her missing groom since. After spotting Mike Jean insists he is her husband and Mike must figure out a way to prove otherwise.

Where to Watch

Episode 36

The Texas Tycoon

Tue, Jun 20, 1961

Mike needs Texas millionaire Handy Cameron's backing to save the news service. Mike decides to use the charms of Dora to help things along but Handy then wants to wed Dora and take her back to Texas.

Where to Watch

Episode 37

Gift for Grandma

Tue, Jun 27, 1961

It's birthday time for Sidney's grandmother and he wants to buy her a nice but inexpensive gift. Mike makes a suggestion that leads Sidney into purchasing a stolen necklace. The office gets involved and ends up behind bars.

Where to Watch

Episode 38

O'Toole and Son

Wed, Jan 25, 1961

Mike's uncle dies and Mike learns he's a beneficiary in the will to the tune of $100, 000. But there is a stipulation, he must have a son as heir. Mike latches onto the idea of adopting Sidney, the office boy.

Where to Watch

Episode 39

Farewell to Dora

Tue, Jul 11, 1961

Mike takes Dora for granted but when he learns she has accepted a better job offer, Mike becomes upset. He devises various plans to get Dora to stay but she remains unpersuaded. The boss realizes he can't get along without her.

Where to Watch